Sign detection means for crawl carry- register



H. GANG 3,015,439 ANS ROR cRAwL CARRY. REGISTER Jan. 2, 1962 SIGN DETECTION ME Filed Sept. 30, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HHH- LHRUI i I L J LJ. J L L INVENTOR FKA/AIV A/V BY g ATTRNEY 3,015,439 SIGN DETECTION MEANS FOR CRAWL CARRY REGISTER Filed Sept. 30, 1958 H. GANG Jan. 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HERMA/V GANG BY #QM AT RNEY United States Patent 3,015,439 SIGN DETECTIUN MEANS FOR CRAWL CARRY REGHSTER Herman Gang, Morris Plains, NJ., assigner to Monroe Calculating Machine Company, Orange, NJ., a-corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 30, 1958, Ser. No. 764,294 8 Claims. (Cl. 23S-79)` This invention relates to registers having tens transfer mechanism of the crawl type, and more particularly to means whereby change of the arithmetical sign of the register may be detected without the necessity of moving the register wheels to aligned or reading position.

`lt is Well known in the art that a change in the arithmetical sign of a calculating machine register may be utilized to control certain of the machine operations. For example, in the performance of a division calculation, the registering mechanism is cycled subtractively until the dividend is reduced to a negative value, and thereupon subtractive registration is terminated. Additive corrective operation of the registering mechanism is then instituted after which the program is continued.

Upon change of the sign of registers having jump tens transfer mechanism, the tens transfer from lower to higher order wheels is extended toward the left as far as such transfer mechanism is provided. A signal upon change of sign of the register, therefore, may be taken from the highest order wheel aligned with the keyboard upon passage of that wheel from to 9 or from 9 to 0 by relatively simple sign detection mechanism.

In registers having crawl tens transfer mechanism,

Vthe continuously engaged transfer gearing between the wheels and the continuously driven differential actuators adapts such registers for a much higher speed of operation than is practical with intermittently driven registers of the jump transfer type. However in crawl transfer registers, appreciable transfer movement is imparted only to the next higher order wheel from a lower order wheel and due to lost motion, no movement at all is imparted to still higher order wheels. Therefore, should registration in a lower order signicant wheel be effective to change the sign of the register, a signal may be taken from the highest order wheel only if the wheels are moved to aligned or reading position.

In the use of listing accounting machines having registers of the crawl transfer type, it is obviously desirable that the operator should know at all times the arithmetical condition of each register and thus avoid the necessity of total taking operations to determine such condition.

Patent 2,775,403 issued December 25, 1956 discloses electrically operated means for detecting change in the sign of a crawl transfer register. This means comprises an electric signaling circuit adapted for assocition with each of the wheels of the register. A signal responsive device is common to all of the circuits, and switching means adjustable in accordance with the value registered on the wheels controls the circuits. Upon passage of the register from positive to negative condition, the circuit associated with the highest order wheel is completed or the circuit of a lower order wheel is completed by series connection with the switching means of all of the higher order wheels. In certain instances, however, a critical condition has been found to exist in the operation of the above noted electric signaling circuits. Briefly this condition is as follows.

Upon passage of a lower order wheel negatively through zero registering position, its switching means will be ICC adjusted so that the associated circuit will be completed by series connection with all of the higher order switching means if and when all of the higher order wheels are moved to zero registering position. However, the arrangement is such that upon further movement of said lower order wheel beyond zero reading position to a given negative reading position, its switching means will break the connection which would operate to cornplete the associated circuit. In this instance, the crawl carry movement imparted to the next higher order wheel is such that its switching means will be operated so that its circuit may be completed by series connection with all of the higher order switching means. If said next higher order wheel is the highest order wheel, its switching means alone will complete its circuit. ln other words, the lower order wheel relinquishes control and the crawl carry movement imparted to the next higher order wheel causes that wheel to take over the control.

The above noted critical condition exists during the transition period as the lower order wheel relinquishes control. At this time, the switching means may fail to make the proper connections due to lost motion in the digital and tens transfer drive trains of the numeral wheels. Therefore lost motion must be reduced to a minimum by precision manufacture and exact adjustment of the switching means is necessary.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the invention to provide sign detection means for a crawl tens transfer register which is positive in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide sign detection means for the crawl tens transfer register which does not require precision manufacture of the register or of the sign detection parts.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide electrically operated sign detection means for a crawl tens transfer register including means to insure positive operation thereof.

To achieve the above objects, the invention provides automatically adjustable lost motion compensating means for circuit control switching means for each of a series of electric signaling circuits which are associated with the numeral wheels respectively of a crawl tens transfer register. Each compensating means is automatically adjusted in accordance with the crawl transfer movement from the next lower order wheel and insures positive operation of the associated switching means regardless of lost motion at the aforenoted critical period during which a lower order wheel relinquishes control to the next higher order wheel. This compensation is permitted by excess latitude of operation of the switching means except during the critical period of operation. The invention however will best be understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a side elevation with parts in section of a series of crawl tens transfer register wheels and the switching means for the electric signaling circuits.

FIG. 2 is a view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 of one of the register wheel units and the switching means associated therewith.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of one of the register wheel units as viewed from the left with parts of the switching means of the next higher order wheel.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an ordinal series of the crawl transfer register wheels with the associated sign signaling circuits and switching means.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic View of an adjacent pair of the register wheels, the associated switching means and the switch control means.

Vknown type.

control any suitable indicating means.

The register wheelsV FIG. 1 is illustrative of a series of numeral Wheels 1 of a register having crawl type tens transfer mechanism. The invention is not restricted to use with any particular type of crawl transfer mechanism. The crawl transfer mechanism therefore may be of any well-known type. However as herein disclosed, the transfer mechanism is of the orbital type disclosed in Gardner Patent 1,828,180 and Chase Patent 2,089,682 but of improved construction.

Digital actuation of wheels 1 is effected by output gears 2 (FG. 2) of digital actuating mechanism, which drive digital input gears Bof the wheels. Input gears 3 drive numeral wheels 1 through gears i secured to gears 3 by sleeves rotatably mounted on a shaft 5, internal-external gears 6, and internal gears '7 to which numeral wheels 1 are secured.

The digital actuating mechanism may be of any well- Appropriate digital actuating mechanism is disclosed in Avery ilatent 2,211,73 6, and Chase Patents 2,150,578 and 2,233,912.

The crawl tens transfer is transmitted from wheel to wheel by gears 8 fixed for rotation with wheels 1 and gears 7, gears 9 fixed on sleeves iti which are rotatably mounted on a jack shaft 11, gears 12 fixed on sleeves 1t), and gears 13 rotatably mounted on shaft 5 and driving eccentrics 13a on which gears 6 are rotatably mounted. Gears 9, 12, and 13 are one to one ratio and eccentrics 13a therefore will each be driven at one to one ratio with the next lower order wheels ll respectively. This arrangement provides that if a gear 13 is rotated to transmit a tens transfer to a wheel 1, and a gear 4 is simultaneously rotated to transmit a digital value to the `same wheel, the movements will be merged to'transmit both values simultaneously to the wheel.

The electric sign signifying circuits As previously noted, there is a signaling circuit and a switching means for each numeral wheel 1, and each switching means in conjunction with all higher order switching means is operable to complete the circuit of the associated wheel 1. In the instance. of the highest order wheel, its ,switching means alone is operable to complete the associated circuit. For reasons later disclosed, this highest order wheel comprises a dummy or overflow wheel in which no digital registration'is effected but only the crawl transfer from the next lower order wheel.

Each of the switching means for the circuits comprises a zero signifying contact 15 (FIGS. 2, 4, 5), a negative signifying contact 16, and a center ,contact 17 interposed between the Zero and negative contacts and adapted to be engaged thereby. Each of the contacts is mounted on a exible conductive arm and contactsV 15 and 16 are thereby biased toward open position.

Alt is desirable to have immediate current ow upon closure of the circuits. Therefore Ashould there be no source of direct current available for thecircuits, such current may be furnished from an alternating current source by the inclusion of a full wave rectifier and a condenser as indicated at 19in FlG. 4.

A conductor 2d is common to all of the circuits and is connected to one side of power source 19. The other side of thel power source is connected to one side of a relay 21 which also is common to all of the circuits and which has its other side connected by a conductor 18 to center contact 17 of the highest order switching means. Relay 21 is operated upon change of sign of the register and may therefore be utilized in the control of a program of division in well-known manner or may be utilized to Obviously therefore relay Z1 is only indicative of any suitable electroresponsive device which may be operated upon change of sign ofthe register.

Each negative signifying contact `16 is connected in parallel with common conductor Zt) and, therefore, with one side of power source 19'. Each Zero signifying contact 15 is connected to center Contact 17 of the next lower order switching means. Therefore, should a successive series of the highest order zero contacts 15 be made with their associated center contacts 17, the contacts 17 would be connected in series with one side of power source 19 through the winding of relay 21. It will, therefore, be seen that if any one of the serially connected center contacts 17 is made with the associated negative contact 16, a circuit will be completed through common conductor 26 which is connected with one side of power source 19 and through the winding of relay 21 which is connected to the other side of thepower source and to the highest order center contact 17.

Control means for the overdraft signifying circuits lower comprising a vertically disposed lever 26 having its upper end engaging said cam 23. Cam 24 is between gear 12 and washer 25, and the washer and the gear serve to guide a cam follower comprising a vertically disposed lever 27 having its upper end engaging said cam 24. Y

The lower end of lever 26 engages a strip 15a of nylon, or other suitable insulating material, on the outer face of the tiexible arm of zero signifying contact 15 of the associated switching means. As noted before, contact 15 is biased to open position by its tiexible arm. However, as later described, cam 23 is adapted to rock lever 26 clockwise (FIGS. 2, 4, 5) thereby engaging contact 15 with center contact 17.

The lower'end of lever 27 engages a strip 16a of suitable insulating material on the outer surface ofthe flexible arm of negative signifying contact 16 of the associated switching means. Also as noted before, Contact 16` is biased to open position by its flexible arm. However, as later described, cam 24 is adapted to rock lever 27 counterclockwise (FIGS. 2, 4, 5) thereby engaging contact 16 with center contact 17.

Levers 26 and 27 are intermediately pivoted in opposed relationship at the respective ends of a pair of studs 281 Which project ieftwardly (FlGS. l, 3) from thelower end of a lifter plate 29. Lifter 29 is supported at its upper end by a compensating eccentric 10a integral with and. at the left end of the next lower order sleeve 10, i.e.,. sleeve 10 which is driven'by the next lower order wheel ll. The left face of lifter 29 slidably engages a` partition plate 3i) and is retained and guided at its lowerend by a: stud 31 in the plate, whichengages a vertical slot atV the lower end of the lifter. Upon rotation of eccentric 10av by said next lower order wheel, lifter 29 will be raised and lowered. Consequently, levers 26 and 27 will bef raised and lowered with respect to the associated cams 23,. 24 and contacts 15, 16.

For a complete understanding of the invention, it isA essential to exactly observe the angular position of each eccentric 10a with respect to the registering position of the wheel 1 which drives it. The reading line for numeral wheels 1 with respect to the digital values registered on the wheels is indicated in the several views kof the drawings. n

When a wheel 1 is at zero registering position, eccentric 1tta, which it drives, willstand with-its highest point in lowermost position. Therefore lifter 29 mountedon the eccentric and levers 26, 27 on the lifter will be adjusted to lowermost position with respect to cams 23, 24 which are rotated by the next higher order wheel 1` and with respect to the associated contacts 15, 16. This condition is clearly illustrated in FIG. 3 and also in FIG. 4 wherein the three highest order wheels may be considered to stand at zero registering position regardless of registration of a minus 1 in the lowest order Wheel. This is so forjthe reason that the crawl movement transmitted by one unit of registration is negligible and practically nonexistent due to lost motion.

In consideration of the above, it will be observed that the eccentric lita shown as it is associated with the highest order wheel of FIG. 4 and which is driven by the next lower order wheel which stands at zero position is adjusted with its highest point downwardly. Likewise the eccentric 10a shown as it is associated with said next lower order wheel and which is driven by the still next lower order wheel which stands at zero position is adjusted with its highest point downwardly.

As a wheel 1 is rotated either additively or subtractively from zero position through a complete turning, eccentric la will likewise be rotated, due to the one to one drive ratio of the tens transfer transmission train, to raise and then lower the associated lifter 29 and levers 26, 27. Thus it will be seen that when a wheel 1 has been rotated 180 from zero to 5 registering position, eccentric 10a will have raised lifter 29 and levers 26, 27 the maximum distance. This condition is illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein a lower order wheel stands at 5 and eccentric lila driven thereby has raised lifter 29 and levers 26, 27 of the next higher order. As will later appear, this is the aforenoted critical condition wherein the devices of the invention insure positive operation of the switching means.

Each zero control cam 23 has what may he termed a zero zone comprising a high dwell 23a and a positive-negative zone comprising a low dwell 235. Zero zone 23a extends, on the periphery of cam 23, about 30 or an angular distance somewhat less than the angular distance the cam will be turned during one unit of digital registration on the associated wheel 1. Positive-negative zone 23b therefore extends angularly throughout the remainder of the cam periphery exclusive of a rise at each end connecting it with zero zone 23a. T he positive portion of zone 23h extends counterclockwise from zero zone 23a, and the negative portion extends clockwise merging with said positive portion.

Each plus-minus control cam Z4 has what may be termed a positive zone of control comprising a low dwell 24a and a negative zone comprising a high dwell 24b. Positive zone 24u extends, on theperip'nery of cam 24, about 180 or approximately the angular distance the cam will be turned during 5 units ot digital registration on the f associated wheel l. Negative zone 24h therefore extends angularly throughout the remainder of the cani periphery exclusive of a rise at each end connecting it with positive zone 24a.

Although the range of the dwells of cams Z3, 24 is not arbitrary, considerable latitude is permissible due primarily to the devices of the invention. lIt will be distinctly understood therefore that the above deiined range limits of the cam dwells is only illustrative of practical dimensions whichhave proven satisfactory in conjunction with the operation of the devices of the invention.

Operation The contact relationship of a pair of levers 26, 2'7 with the associated cams 23, 24 and contacts l5, 16 will first be described with the numeral wheel which drives the cams and the next lower order numeral wheel in zero position.

Reference is made to the two highest order units of FIG. 4 wherein numeral wheels l of both units stand at zero registering position. Levers 26, 27 of the higher order unit are adjusted to lowermost position by eccentric hun which is driven by the numeral wheel of the lower order unit. When levers 26, 27 are in lowermost position, their upper ends are immediately below a horizontal center line v6 passing through the axis of cam assembly 23, 24. Zero zone 23a of cam 23 is clockwise immediately below the center line, the entire range of positive zone 24a of cam 24 is below the center line, and the entire range of negative zone 24b of cam 24 is above the center line.

With the parts in the positions described above, the upper end of lever 26 will be engaged by zero Zone 23a of cam 23 and the lever will therefore be rocked clockwise to close contacts 15, 17. The upper end of lever 27 will be engaged by positive zone 24u of cam 24 immediately counterclockwise from negative zone 24:5 and the lever will therefore be rocked clockwise and contacts 16, i7 Will be open due to the resilient bias of the arm of Icontact 16.

From the above, it will be seen that, with a numeral wheel in zero registering position, both zero zone 23a of cam 23 and positive zone 24a of cam 24 are in controlling position. This overlapping of the zero and positive zones provides that zero contact 15 of the associated switching means is closed but negative contact 16 is open. From an inspection of the higher order of FG. 5, it will be seen that there is also an overlapping of control of zero zone 23a and negative zone 24b to simultaneously close zero contact 15 and negative contact 16. However, closure of Zero Contact l5, at this time to connect contact 17 to the next lower order switching means, has no significance because said contact 17 is connected directly to one side of the power source by negative contact 16. Furthermore, it will be understood that the function of the positive-negative portions of zone 23b of cam 23 is to permit opening of contacts 15, 17 as the associated wheel 1 passes positively or negatively `from its zero zone of registration. Obviously therefore the relative range and the merging of the positive and negative portions of zone 23b is of no consequence.

It will be recalled that digital vaiues are not registered in the highest order or overiiow numeral wheel (FIG. 4). It will be assumed, for example, that the wheel adjacent the overiiow wheel is moved in a negative direction from zero to any value of from 9 to 6. During this movement, cam 24 will be rotated counterclockwise to disengage its positive zone 24a and engage its negative zone 24b with lever Z7. Therefore contacts 16, 17 will be closed to make a connection with conductor 2@ and one side of power source 19, and a connection with contact 15 of the overliow wheel. The crawl transfer to the overow wheel will not rotate its cam 23 counterclockwise sufciently to remove zero zone 23a from engagement with its lever 26. Therefore lever 26 will be held rocked clockwise to maintain the associated cont-acts l5, 1'7 closed and a circuit will be completed through. relay 21 to indicate an overdraft. During the above operation, it will be observed that while zero dwell 23a is moved counterclockwise toward disengagement Ifrom lever 26 of the overflow unit, the lever will be progressively raised by eccentric 10a driven from the next lower order wheel. This will insure that contacts 15, 17 of the overflow unit are maintained in engagement regardless of lost motion or course adjustment of the parts.

The operation will now be considered upon further negative movement of the wheel adjacent the overow wheel from 6 to 5 registering position. During this period, the control to maintain the overdraft signal will be transferred to the overflow wheel prior to relinquishment of the control by the adjacent lower order wheel in which negative registration has caused the overdraft. For this operation reference is made to FIG. 5 which shows :a pair of adjacent order wheel units wherein the digit 5 has been registered negatively in the lower order wheel.

It will be observed that further negative rotation of the lower order wheel from 5 registering position will cause counterclockwise rotation of cam 24 to remove its vnegative zone 24h from engagement with lever 27. This would permit contacts 16, i7 to open and break the overdraft circuit. Moreover, without further negative rotation of cam 24, contacts 16, 17 may be opened (not shown in the drawing). This could be due to lost motion which has been estimated to average .2 to .3 of a unit of registration in a crawl transfer numeral wheel. Therefore higher order contacts 16, 17 must be closed to `complete a circuit before lower order contacts 16, 17 are opened.

The dot-dash showing of higher order levers 25, 27 indicates the position in which they were adjusted prior to registration in the lower order wheel. Obviously they would remain in this lowered position but for the compensating adjustment effected by the devices of the invention. ln the dot-dash showing of lever 27, the crawl movement from lower order wheel 1 has rotated higher o-rder cam 24 counterclockwise only suiliciently to start engagement of negative Zone 24h with said lever. This movement is shown as operable to close higher order contacts 16, 17. However, due to lost motion, closure of said higher order contacts 16, 17 may not have been effects whereas, as noted before, lower order contacts i6, i7 may have been opened. Therefore overdraft relay 21 would be deenergized. The devices of the invention insure closure of the higher order contacts yas follows.

The full line showing of higher order levers 25, 27 illustrates their actual position, i.e., the position to which they are raised by operation of compensating cam lha which is driven by the lower order wheel l. lt will be noted that in the raised position of lever 27, the counterclockwise negative movement of `cam 24 has been amply sufficient to engage its negative zone 24th with said lever, and therefore this engagement will positively occur before lower order contacts 16, 17 have opened. In this operation, it will be seen that lever 27 is gradually raised or, in other words, moved toward negative zone Zlib as said zone is moved counterclockwise toward the lever. Therefore the engagement will occur at an earlier time than such engagement would occur if lever 27 had aistationary ulcrum.

Upon further negative movement of the lower order wheel from registering position, higher order lever 2,7 will be gradually restored downwardly by eccentric a. However positive engagement of lever 27 with negative zone Zlib will be maintained by virtue of the counterclockwise movement of cam 24 transmitted from the lower order wheel which will cause said negative zone to follow said lever in its downward movement.

During the above operation of higher order lever 27 in completing a circuit for relay 21, the position of the associated lever 26 and associated contacts 15, 17 is obviously of no consequence for the reason that the function of these contacts, as described before, is to complete a circuit in conjunction with the next lower order switching means.

With reference to the two highest order units of FIG. 4, the operation of the switching means will now be considered upon movement of the wheel adjacent the overilow wheel to a positive value. Upon movement of the lower order wheel positively to any value of from l to 4, positive zone 24a of cam 2.4 will remain in engagement with lever 27. Positive zone 24u of cam 24 of the overow or er will also engage its lever 27. Consequently contacts 16, 17 of both orders will be open and no circuit will be completed to energized relay 21. However upon positive movement of the lower order wheel to 5 registering position or beyond, negative zone 24b will engage lever 27 and contacts 16 17 Wilt be closed. Therefore Zero zone 23a of overflow cam 23 must have been removed from engagement with lever 26, otherwise contacts 15, 17 would remain closed and a circuit would be completed for relay 2l. Higher order cam 23 will have been rotated clockwise by the crawl transfer from the lower order wheel and therefore Zero Zone 23a will be rotated from engagement with lever 2.6. To insure against failure of this operation due to lost motion and course adjustment of the parts, lever 26 will have been raised and therefore positively removed from engagement with zero zone 23a. At this time, higher order lever 27 also will be raised. However, the crawl movement will have moved negative zone Zfib further clockwise from lever 27, and the lever therefore will remain in engagement with positive zone 24o.

Should a successive series of the higher order wheels including the overflow wheel stand at 0 as indicated by the three highest orders (FlG. 4), contacts 15, 17 of each order will be closed, thereby connecting the contacts in series with one side of relay 21. if the next lower order wheel is passed negatively through i), a circuit will be completed to energize relay 2l as shown in PlG. 4. lf, however, the wheel is passed positively through O, there will be no completed circuit. lt will be understood that the next higher order wheel takes over the control, in the instances described in connection with the overflow wheel, and that the operation is insured in the same manner by the devices of the invention. A

It will be understood that the signaling circuits and controls therefore to indicate change of sign of a crawl carry register, have a number of utilities. The invention therefore is to be restricted only as necessitated by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. In a register including an ordinal seriesof numeral wheels and crawl tens transfer mechanism between said wheels; the combination of, electric signaling circuit means including switching means associated with each of said Wheels and circuit connections adapted to be opened and closed by each of said switching means, a switch controlling device operable in time with each of said wheels ,for contro-lling operation of the associated switching means to complete a circuit upon change of sign of said register, and means operable in time with each successive lower order wheel to change the time of operation of the switch controlling device of the next higher order wheel.

2. The invention according to claim l; wherein said means operable in time with each successive lower order wheel is operable throughout a complete rotation of said wheel.

3. The invention according to claim 1; wherein the change in the time of operation of said switch controlling device comprises an advance in time of operation.

4. The invention according to claim l; wherein said means operable in time with each successive lower order wheel includes the crawl tens transfer mechanism which drives said next higher o-rder wheel.

5. ln a register including an ordinal series of numeral Wheels and crawl tens transfer' mechanism between said wheels; the combination of, electric signaling circuit means including switching means associated with each of said wheels and circuit connections adapted to be opened and closed by each of said switching means, a switch controlling device operable in time with each of said wheels for controlling operation of the associated switching means to complete-a circuit upon change of sign of said register, and means operable in time with each successive lower order wheel to effect relative adjustment between the controlling device and the switching means of the next higher order wheel.

6. The invention according to claim 5; ywherein said means operable to effect relative adjustment between the controlling device and the switching means of said next higher order wheel includes the crawl tens transfer mech- -anism driven by said lower order wheel.

7. In a register including an ordinal series of numeral wheels and crawl tens transfer mechanism between said wheels; the combination of, electric signaling circuit means including switching means associated with each of said wheels, said switching means each including adjustable operating means, and circuit lconnections adapted to be opened and closed by each of vsaid switching means,

a switch controlling device comprising acam operable in time with each of said wheels and engaging said operating means of the associated switching means to control operation thereof to complete a circuit upon change of sign of said register, and means operable in time with each successive lower order wheel `to adjust the loperating means of the switching means with respect to the associated cam of the next higher order wheel.

8. The invention according to claim 7; wherein the adjusting means operable in time with each successive lower order wheel includes an eccentric.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fleming Ian. 25, Toorell May 22, Hopkins Aug. 9, Hall July 31,

Hall et al. Dec. 25, 

